Repugnant Gateway

Chapter 89: Stay a little longer

Views:

This was the first night in four years that Qu Liuxi and the others had not stayed at home.

Qu Liuxi said: "The people from the Ministry of War sent an autographed letter from An Zheng. It was indeed written by An Zheng. An Zheng made an agreement with us a long time ago. He will write some words in a special way, and some others." I have seen his very hidden characteristics, and they are not fake. He said that the Ministry of War was only detaining him for a symbolic day and would release him tomorrow.”

Gu Qianye seemed to be muttering to himself: "Maybe An Zheng made a mistake in his judgment?"

"The state can use laws to require young and strong men to join the army, but will these people who are brought into the military camps by force really become qualified soldiers?"

In the study of Shangshu Hao Pingan, Chen Zaiyan, the minister of the Ministry of War, poured a cup of tea for Hao Pingan, and then sat down opposite: "Sir, is this matter really handled according to An Zheng's way?"

She took a deep breath: "An Zheng is not a fool, but he believes in kindness too easily."

Gu Qianye lowered his head to look at the things on the necklace, and then stuffed it back into his clothes.

"To whom?"

Chen Zaiyan asked.

Several people sat on the roof, holding their chins in their hands, staring at the moon in a daze, and no one spoke.

Hao Ping'an was silent for a moment, and then said in a gentle tone: "A few vice-deans can move one or two from it, but don't expand it any more."

Chen Zaiyan raised his head: "But sir, isn't there some other reason for this? Aren't those poor children who died in the battle killed by someone? They are like strong loaches, fighting for their lives. They want to squeeze into a pond of koi, but these koi will never allow them to break in, so they will kill these loaches out of the koi pond at all costs."

He said seriously: "In times of great chaos, the Ministry of War is the top priority. As long as the Ministry of War is fair and just, then there will be hope for young people with the same background as you, and there will be hope for the country."

"To whom?"

Different from Qu Liuxi and the others, Gu Qianye stood alone at the door with a somewhat ugly look on his face. She took out the thin necklace hanging around her neck from her clothes, looked down at the thing hanging on the necklace, and impulsively wanted to pull it off several times.

She turned back to look at Qu Liuxi: "Do you think An Zheng is in danger?"

Hao Ping'an said: "So, An Zheng's suggestion must be done. Originally, I planned to go see the people who are still surrounding the gate of the martial arts academy in person tomorrow, but I think you are more suitable than me. I will enter the palace tomorrow. See your Majesty and explain this matter to Your Majesty in detail."

Chen Zaiyan was silent, looking down at the tea cup in his hand in a daze.

Hao Pingan looked at the moonlight outside: "I haven't been home for more than ten days. I will go back today to take a look."

Qu Liuxi, who was sitting on the roof, saw Gu Qianye who was behaving strangely, and then flew down from the roof: "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

"You come from a poor family."

Hao Ping'an said: "But we can't change anything. There are always people who have to go to the battlefield. Those who don't have to go to the battlefield have enough strength behind them to support them. But children from poor families are different. If they want to change their lives and shine on their family, they only need to go to the battlefield. If you can fight, you can only fight your way out."

"But this is not enough. Enough young people must come in and you must train them."

she asked.

Qu Liuxi, who was sitting on the roof, saw Gu Qianye who was behaving strangely, and then flew down from the roof: "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

"You said it's tragic. The only thing I can do now is to maintain this hope in this tragic way."

Hao Pingan looked at the moonlight outside: "I haven't been home for more than ten days. I will go back today to take a look."

Chen Zaiyan was silent, looking down at the tea cup in his hand in a daze.

Hao Ping'an said: "Tomorrow you go out to appease the people and tell them that the Wuyuan will investigate the matter thoroughly and then figure out the matters within the Wuyuan within three days. Don't judge anyone just because they have been in the Wuyuan for a long time. Let him go, as long as he commits crimes, we will arrest them all.”

Hao Pingan nodded: "Okay."

"You said it's tragic. The only thing I can do now is to maintain this hope in this tragic way."

Hao Ping'an said: "An Zheng is a person who can be cultivated. In the future, the Ministry of War will be handed over to you. You should also find helpers for yourself early. Among the existing people, Fang Daozhi and Fang Zhiji are the same. They go their own way. But such a person can be trusted. However, this kind of trust is based on personal relationships, not official matters. I deliberately left Wang Kaitai to be your helper. He is an upright person, but he is not unreasonable in his actions and has careful thoughts. It’s in the interests of the frontier army to stay with you.”

Gu Qianye lowered his head to look at the things on the necklace, and then stuffed it back into his clothes.

"But this is not enough. Enough young people must come in and you must train them."

Qu Liuxi, who was sitting on the roof, saw Gu Qianye who was behaving strangely, and then flew down from the roof: "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

Chen Zaiyan looked at Hao Pingan: "But sir, isn't this kind of resistance too cruel?"

Hao Ping'an was silent for a moment, and then said in a gentle tone: "A few vice-deans can move one or two from it, but don't expand it any more."

"To whom?"

"But this is not enough. Enough young people must come in and you must train them."

Qu Liuxi, who was sitting on the roof, saw Gu Qianye who was behaving strangely, and then flew down from the roof: "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

Chen Zaiyan asked.

She turned back to look at Qu Liuxi: "Do you think An Zheng is in danger?"

At the same time, in the military prison cell.

He lowered his head with a sad expression on his face: "In ten months, 314 outstanding young people, 219 were killed in battle, 32 were disabled, and 80% was lost. And the rest 20% of those who are still alive are all from well-established families, because these young people will not go to the battlefield at all when they go to the frontier. They just go to gain qualifications. Sooner or later, they will return to serve in the court. It will not take long. It will become the backbone of the army, and this backbone represents the interests of the major families.”

Hao Ping'an saw disappointment in Chen Zaiyan's eyes, and also saw something very complicated that seemed to be sadness. He thought this sadness was just Chen Zaiyan feeling sorry for those who came from a poor family like him, so he didn't pay much attention to it. There are many types of human sadness, but you can't tell them apart in the eyes. Some sadness is related to oneself, and some sadness is related to others, such as... the separation is about to happen.

Hao Ping'an smiled and shook his head: "As for those koi fish you mentioned, I am actually one of them, but I am a bit different. Before his death, the late king said that those big koi fish that looked like the pillars of the imperial court Families are actually the worms of the country. But in order to maintain the stability of the country, we have to use these people. But if we only use these people, the country will still be destroyed."

"You come from a poor family."

Just as I was thinking about this, the door chain outside rang, and two jailers walked in one after another: "Master An, there is something I need to tell you in advance."

An Zheng looked around. Except for the torture instruments still hanging on the walls, which were a little out of place, everything else was fine.

Chen Zaiyan stood up and cupped his fists with his hands.

Gu Qianye seemed to be muttering to himself: "Maybe An Zheng made a mistake in his judgment?"

There was some disappointment in Chen Zaiyan's eyes, but he knew this was the limit.

"But fundamentally, his ideas are indeed helpful to the Ministry of War. Although the Martial Arts Academy has produced some talents in recent years, they have never been able to compare with Dading Academy and Taishang Dojo. Moreover, the border areas have been fighting for many years, and those who came from Outstanding young people who have graduated from the martial arts academy will die in battle after they reach the battlefield. As a result, our military department has always been insufficient in reserve force, which has also led to the situation of almost no successors in the army. "

"But this is not enough. Enough young people must come in and you must train them."

Qu Liuxi's face changed slightly: "Then what should we do?"

Hao Pingan nodded: "Okay."

Hao Ping'an said: "In order to allow people from poor families to serve as officials and become an indispensable force in the court, we can only increase the number of children from poor families that the court absorbs to compete. People who want to die have not joined. If there are many people coming in, some of them will eventually remain and become the pillars of the imperial court. Yes, you said it is tragic, it is indeed tragic, because only one person in a thousand can stay."

The jailer walking in front smiled and said to An Zheng, "You may need to stay a little longer."

"The state can use laws to require young and strong men to join the army, but will these people who are brought into the military camps by force really become qualified soldiers?"

An Zheng did sleep in a single room, a single room with a big bed.

Gu Qianye raised her hand and pressed it on her chest, her necklace heating up slightly.

"Sir, it is my lifelong honor to be able to work by your side."

Chen Zaiyan looked at Hao Pingan: "But sir, isn't this kind of resistance too cruel?"

Hao Pingan nodded: "An Zheng is a rare talent. What he did today is unforgivable. According to my original idea, he was to be sent to the border as a slave in the army. But what he said , but it changed my mind... In fact, a large part of what he said was taken for granted, and he thought that it would not be difficult to implement. That is not because he is naive, but because he is not very familiar with the officialdom of our country. "

She turned to look at Qu Liuxi and said: "Before I led my people into the Huanshi Changju City, I didn't have any good impressions of people like you. You call yourself the largest nation and flaunt your generosity and kindness. But in our ancient hunting In my impression, you were cunning and treacherous. Later, after I came into contact with you, I slowly changed my view. I know that there will be scum in any nation, but most of them are good people. However... we can never do that. Forget to guard against the evil in human nature.”

"It's tragic."

Chen Zaiyan stood up and cupped his fists with his hands.

She took a deep breath: "An Zheng is not a fool, but he believes in kindness too easily."

"It's tragic."

Ministry of War.

Chen Zaiyan stood up and cupped his fists with his hands.

The jailer walking in front smiled and said to An Zheng, "You may need to stay a little longer."

Gu Qianye raised her hand and pressed it on her chest, her necklace heating up slightly.

Ministry of War.

Gu Qianye raised her hand and pressed it on her chest, her necklace heating up slightly.

Just as I was thinking about this, the door chain outside rang, and two jailers walked in one after another: "Master An, there is something I need to tell you in advance."

Hao Pingan looked at the moonlight outside: "I haven't been home for more than ten days. I will go back today to take a look."

Qu Liuxi's face changed slightly: "Then what should we do?"

Hao Pingan looked at Chen Zaiyan and said, "So you understand the hardships of those poor children better than I do, so you feel sorry for them more than I do. But please believe me, I am working hard to do something that can help them."

Just as I was thinking about this, the door chain outside rang, and two jailers walked in one after another: "Master An, there is something I need to tell you in advance."

She took a deep breath: "An Zheng is not a fool, but he believes in kindness too easily."

"The state can use laws to require young and strong men to join the army, but will these people who are brought into the military camps by force really become qualified soldiers?"

Chen Zaiyan was silent, looking down at the tea cup in his hand in a daze.

"You said it's tragic. The only thing I can do now is to maintain this hope in this tragic way."

"You come from a poor family."

Hao Pingan nodded: "Okay."

Chen Zaiyan sighed: "This reminds me of those young people who graduated from the martial arts academy last year. Of the 328 people who graduated, only 14 of them joined the Ministry of War, and the rest were all transferred to various parts of the border. From September last year, they Ten months have passed since graduation... Yesterday, I counted the number of casualties reported in the border reports this year, and then focused on the low-level generals who died in battle. "

The jailer walking in front smiled and said to An Zheng, "You may need to stay a little longer."

Chen Zaiyan clenched his fists, and the veins on the back of his hands were exposed.

Several people sat on the roof, holding their chins in their hands, staring at the moon in a daze, and no one spoke.

Chen Zaiyan asked.

Gu Qianye raised her hand and pressed it on her chest, her necklace heating up slightly.

Qu Liuxi, who was sitting on the roof, saw Gu Qianye who was behaving strangely, and then flew down from the roof: "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

However, this big bed was pieced together by a few jailers who found some flat items, and the bedding was brand new and very clean. In addition to the big bed, there is a table and a stool. There are four or five plates of snacks on the table, and of course a bottle of wine.

"It's tragic."

Before he could say anything else, Hao Ping'an stopped him: "Don't talk about being guilty. The king actually has great ambitions, but there are too many thieves around him."

Chen Zaiyan clenched his fists, and the veins on the back of his hands were exposed.

Chen Zaiyan looked at Hao Pingan: "But sir, isn't this kind of resistance too cruel?"

Hao Pingan patted Chen Zaiyan on the shoulder: "I know, I understand, that's why I'm going to implement what An Zheng said. Let more people from poor families see hope, so that more people can be relieved to have a better life." educate."

Hao Ping'an was silent for a moment, and then said in a gentle tone: "A few vice-deans can move one or two from it, but don't expand it any more."

"The imperial court is this big pond."

Chen Zaiyan was silent, looking down at the tea cup in his hand in a daze.

Qu Liuxi, who was sitting on the roof, saw Gu Qianye who was behaving strangely, and then flew down from the roof: "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

Chen Zaiyan clenched his fists, and the veins on the back of his hands were exposed.

This was the first night in four years that Qu Liuxi and the others had not stayed at home.

Chen Zaiyan sat there, his eyes already red: "People from poor families will have a more pure heart to serve the country, but they are not allowed to be reused. However... I won't say it anymore."

she asked.

This was the first night in four years that Qu Liuxi and the others had not stayed at home.

"You said it's tragic. The only thing I can do now is to maintain this hope in this tragic way."

At the same time, in the military prison cell.

"Go, meet An Zheng, listen to his thoughts, and then calm the public opinion."

Chen Zaiyan looked at Hao Pingan: "But sir, isn't this kind of resistance too cruel?"

"The state can use laws to require young and strong men to join the army, but will these people who are brought into the military camps by force really become qualified soldiers?"

"To whom?"

Chen Zaiyan stood up and cupped his fists with his hands.

Qu Liuxi's face changed slightly: "Then what should we do?"

"The imperial court is this big pond."

"It's tragic."

This was the first night in four years that Qu Liuxi and the others had not stayed at home.

Before he could say anything else, Hao Ping'an stopped him: "Don't talk about being guilty. The king actually has great ambitions, but there are too many thieves around him."

Chen Zaiyan looked at Hao Pingan: "But sir, isn't this kind of resistance too cruel?"

Qu Liuxi, who was sitting on the roof, saw Gu Qianye who was behaving strangely, and then flew down from the roof: "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

Hao Ping'an felt a little awkward, but he didn't know where it was. He felt that there was something wrong with Chen Zaiyan's words just now, and this answer was not in line with Chen Zaiyan's temperament.

Chen Zaiyan was silent, looking down at the tea cup in his hand in a daze.

Qu Liuxi's face changed slightly: "Then what should we do?"

She turned back to look at Qu Liuxi: "Do you think An Zheng is in danger?"

"You come from a poor family."

"It's tragic."

Chen Zaiyan looked at Hao Pingan: "But sir, isn't this kind of resistance too cruel?"

"To whom?"

However, in theory, there should be no torture instruments in the military department's cell... Because the military department's cell is only a place where prisoners are temporarily detained, and the military department has no private right to use torture.

An Zheng looked around. Except for the torture instruments still hanging on the walls, which were a little out of place, everything else was fine.

The jailer walking in front smiled and said to An Zheng, "You may need to stay a little longer."

"So, after the late king passed away, the Queen Mother wanted to replace the right minister of the Ministry of War who had been vacant for many years, but I refused on the grounds that those people were unavailable. If the Queen Mother arranges for people to come in, those people will be the ones who will replace me in the future. Not you."

An Zheng looked around. Except for the torture instruments still hanging on the walls, which were a little out of place, everything else was fine.

She turned back to look at Qu Liuxi: "Do you think An Zheng is in danger?"

Chen Zaiyan: "I will arrange for someone to escort you back."

There was some disappointment in Chen Zaiyan's eyes, but he knew this was the limit.

"Sir, it is my lifelong honor to be able to work by your side."

"But this is not enough. Enough young people must come in and you must train them."

"Sir, it is my lifelong honor to be able to work by your side."

Chen Zaiyan sighed: "It's just..."

Chen Zaiyan clenched his fists, and the veins on the back of his hands were exposed.

Chen Zaiyan stood up and cupped his fists with his hands.

Hao Ping'an was silent for a moment, and then said in a gentle tone: "A few vice-deans can move one or two from it, but don't expand it any more."

Hao Pingan looked at the moonlight outside: "I haven't been home for more than ten days. I will go back today to take a look."

Qu Liuxi's face changed slightly: "Then what should we do?"

Hao Pingan nodded: "Okay."

The jailer walking in front smiled and said to An Zheng, "You may need to stay a little longer."

Chen Zaiyan looked at Hao Pingan: "But sir, isn't this kind of resistance too cruel?"

Before he could say anything else, Hao Ping'an stopped him: "Don't talk about being guilty. The king actually has great ambitions, but there are too many thieves around him."

He turned around and looked at Chen Zaiyan: "This is why the late king overcame all the opposition and appointed you as the Minister of War. The late king knew what I was like, so he handed you over to me and asked you to work by my side just to train you. Let you become a model, a model that makes the blood of poor people boil with excitement and goals when you mention your name.”

"It's tragic."

"The imperial court is this big pond."

She turned back to look at Qu Liuxi: "Do you think An Zheng is in danger?"

"To whom?"

There was some disappointment in Chen Zaiyan's eyes, but he knew this was the limit.

Chen Zaiyan sighed: "It's just..."

"The imperial court is this big pond."

"To whom?"

An Zheng did sleep in a single room, a single room with a big bed.

"You said it's tragic. The only thing I can do now is to maintain this hope in this tragic way."

Hao Pingan nodded: "Okay."

There was some disappointment in Chen Zaiyan's eyes, but he knew this was the limit.

Chen Zaiyan sat there, his eyes already red: "People from poor families will have a more pure heart to serve the country, but they are not allowed to be reused. However... I won't say it anymore."

Chen Zaiyan sighed: "It's just..."

This was the first night in four years that Qu Liuxi and the others had not stayed at home.

"But this is not enough. Enough young people must come in and you must train them."

"King?"

Just as I was thinking about this, the door chain outside rang, and two jailers walked in one after another: "Master An, there is something I need to tell you in advance."

Chen Zaiyan sighed: "It's just..."

Chen Zaiyan looked at Hao Pingan: "But sir, isn't this kind of resistance too cruel?"

"It's tragic."

Just as I was thinking about this, the door chain outside rang, and two jailers walked in one after another: "Master An, there is something I need to tell you in advance."

"You come from a poor family."

Ministry of War.

Before he could say anything else, Hao Ping'an stopped him: "Don't talk about being guilty. The king actually has great ambitions, but there are too many thieves around him."

This was the first night in four years that Qu Liuxi and the others had not stayed at home.

"To whom?"

Just as I was thinking about this, the door chain outside rang, and two jailers walked in one after another: "Master An, there is something I need to tell you in advance."

Hao Ping'an was silent for a moment, and then said in a gentle tone: "A few vice-deans can move one or two from it, but don't expand it any more."

Hao Pingan nodded: "Okay."

Hao Ping'an was silent for a moment, and then said in a gentle tone: "A few vice-deans can move one or two from it, but don't expand it any more."

"To whom?"

She turned back to look at Qu Liuxi: "Do you think An Zheng is in danger?"

Chen Zaiyan asked.

"You said it's tragic. The only thing I can do now is to maintain this hope in this tragic way."

She took a deep breath: "An Zheng is not a fool, but he believes in kindness too easily."

Chen Zaiyan asked.

An Zheng looked around. Except for the torture instruments still hanging on the walls, which were a little out of place, everything else was fine.

"Go, meet An Zheng, listen to his thoughts, and then calm the public opinion."

Chen Zaiyan clenched his fists, and the veins on the back of his hands were exposed.

Before he could say anything else, Hao Ping'an stopped him: "Don't talk about being guilty. The king actually has great ambitions, but there are too many thieves around him."

Chen Zaiyan clenched his fists, and the veins on the back of his hands were exposed.

Chen Zaiyan stood up and cupped his fists with his hands.

Hao Ping'an was silent for a moment, and then said in a gentle tone: "A few vice-deans can move one or two from it, but don't expand it any more."

Chen Zaiyan sat there, his eyes already red: "People from poor families will have a more pure heart to serve the country, but they are not allowed to be reused. However... I won't say it anymore."

There was some disappointment in Chen Zaiyan's eyes, but he knew this was the limit.

"Go, meet An Zheng, listen to his thoughts, and then calm the public opinion."

Chen Zaiyan stood up and cupped his fists with his hands.

Gu Qianye raised her hand and pressed it on her chest, her necklace heating up slightly.

"Go, meet An Zheng, listen to his thoughts, and then calm the public opinion."

Chen Zaiyan was silent, looking down at the tea cup in his hand in a daze.

"It's tragic."

she asked.

She turned back to look at Qu Liuxi: "Do you think An Zheng is in danger?"

"Sir, it is my lifelong honor to be able to work by your side."

"To whom?"

Hao Ping'an was silent for a moment, and then said in a gentle tone: "A few vice-deans can move one or two from it, but don't expand it any more."

Before he could say anything else, Hao Ping'an stopped him: "Don't talk about being guilty. The king actually has great ambitions, but there are too many thieves around him."

Qu Liuxi, who was sitting on the roof, saw Gu Qianye who was behaving strangely, and then flew down from the roof: "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

"But this is not enough. Enough young people must come in and you must train them."

Chen Zaiyan said: "Don't worry, sir, I will do it."

The jailer walking in front smiled and said to An Zheng, "You may need to stay a little longer."

Just as I was thinking about this, the door chain outside rang, and two jailers walked in one after another: "Master An, there is something I need to tell you in advance."

Chen Zaiyan said: "Don't worry, sir, I will do it."

"It's tragic."

An Zheng looked around. Except for the torture instruments still hanging on the walls, which were a little out of place, everything else was fine.

Several people sat on the roof, holding their chins in their hands, staring at the moon in a daze, and no one spoke.

"Go, meet An Zheng, listen to his thoughts, and then calm the public opinion."

She took a deep breath: "An Zheng is not a fool, but he believes in kindness too easily."

"But this is not enough. Enough young people must come in and you must train them."

The jailer walking in front smiled and said to An Zheng, "You may need to stay a little longer."

"To whom?"

"Go, meet An Zheng, listen to his thoughts, and then calm the public opinion."

Hao Ping'an was silent for a moment, and then said in a gentle tone: "A few vice-deans can move one or two from it, but don't expand it any more."

This was the first night in four years that Qu Liuxi and the others had not stayed at home.

Hao Pingan nodded: "Okay."

Chen Zaiyan looked at Hao Pingan: "But sir, isn't this kind of resistance too cruel?"

Hao Pingan looked at the moonlight outside: "I haven't been home for more than ten days. I will go back today to take a look."

"Sir, it is my lifelong honor to be able to work by your side."

"You come from a poor family."

Chen Zaiyan: "I will arrange for someone to escort you back."

This was the first night in four years that Qu Liuxi and the others had not stayed at home.

Chen Zaiyan: "I will arrange for someone to escort you back."

An Zheng looked around. Except for the torture instruments still hanging on the walls, which were a little out of place, everything else was fine.

Hao Pingan nodded: "Okay."

Hao Pingan looked at the moonlight outside: "I haven't been home for more than ten days. I will go back today to take a look."

Chen Zaiyan said: "Don't worry, sir, I will do it."

At the same time, in the military prison cell.

An Zheng did sleep in a single room, a single room with a big bed.

Chen Zaiyan sighed: "It's just..."

Several people sat on the roof, holding their chins in their hands, staring at the moon in a daze, and no one spoke.

"The imperial court is this big pond."

Hao Pingan looked at the moonlight outside: "I haven't been home for more than ten days. I will go back today to take a look."

An Zheng looked around. Except for the torture instruments still hanging on the walls, which were a little out of place, everything else was fine.

"You said it's tragic. The only thing I can do now is to maintain this hope in this tragic way."

Hao Pingan looked at the moonlight outside: "I haven't been home for more than ten days. I will go back today to take a look."

Chen Zaiyan asked.

Chen Zaiyan said: "Don't worry, sir, I will do it."

"The state can use laws to require young and strong men to join the army, but will these people who are brought into the military camps by force really become qualified soldiers?"

Ministry of War.

Chen Zaiyan was silent, looking down at the tea cup in his hand in a daze.

Hao Pingan nodded: "Okay."

Just as I was thinking about this, the door chain outside rang, and two jailers walked in one after another: "Master An, there is something I need to tell you in advance."

Chen Zaiyan asked.

"But this is not enough. Enough young people must come in and you must train them."

Chen Zaiyan clenched his fists, and the veins on the back of his hands were exposed.

"You said it's tragic. The only thing I can do now is to maintain this hope in this tragic way."

Hao Pingan looked at the moonlight outside: "I haven't been home for more than ten days. I will go back today to take a look."

"The state can use laws to require young and strong men to join the army, but will these people who are brought into the military camps by force really become qualified soldiers?"

She took a deep breath: "An Zheng is not a fool, but he believes in kindness too easily."

The jailer walking in front smiled and said to An Zheng, "You may need to stay a little longer."

Prev Index Next